Retort



Oct. 20, 1931. MOD, QHNS 1,828,499

RETORT Filed May 6, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inve 712807: 6220 342 ZJQQ. 17570113,

0a. 20, 1931. G MCDjJ NS 1,828,499

RETORT Filed May 6, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1' Iva we 2".-

easgg M2180 74/76 Oct. 20, 1931. a. MCD. JOHNS 1,328,499,

RETORT Filed May a, 1927 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Gearye Jill-2).

Oct. 20, 1931. G. MCD. JOHNS Filed May 6, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 66' $4 .90 diay Inve 753671 $20719 M (7670718; 9 02 Patented Oct. 2c, 1931 eaons-E map. JOHNS, or snrrine'ron, Missouri;

1 nnronr Application filed May 6,

This inventionrelates generally to ovens or retort-s and, morelparticularly, toa certain new anduseful improvement ovens or retorts especially adapted for use" 1n the carbonizaticn' and distillation of materlals carrying a percentage. of recoverablevola tile matter, such as, for instance,cannel and other bituminous coals, lignlte, peat, o l-shale,

and the like, from which valuable gases and condensable vapors may be driven off under the action of heat and subsequently recovered by suitable means or processes of collection and condensation.

my invention has, among its principal ob; I

convenient and eflicient control of the heating of the oven; and of means for effecting elimination of dust troubles; and the 1mprovement and simplification generally of ovens or retorts of'the class mentioned. 1

And with'the above and other objects in view, in invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement,

and combination of parts. hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.-

in the accompanying drawings i v Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in, longitudinal vertical section, of the forward portion of the oven or retort; V

Figure 2 is a similarview of the rear portion of the oven or retort;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse'vertical section of the retort, taken approximately on or about the line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentaryview, on an enlarged scale, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, of

the retort arts bein i. broken awa to eX- a X pose certain details of construction or under .50 lying parts; I

endwof theistructure (see Figure 1) of the 1927. Serial No. 189,308.

Figure 5 is a fragmental side elevation of the oven, showing details of the vertical side reinforcements and supporting uprights of the superstructure;

Figure 6 is a detail fragmental View, partly/in side elevation and partly in section, of the conveyor and one of the scraper elements; 7 and a Figure 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 6.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings,iwhich illustrate a preferred and practical embodiment of my invention, the oven or retort there shown is of the recuperative type and comprises a base or foundation 1 preferably composed of concrete and provided with parallel, spaced, rectangular, longitudinally-extending raised portions or W ribs 2, which are capped by inverted channel membersv 8. Across the channel members 3 are laid and suitably secured transverse floor supports. 4 each preferably comprising a pair of angle members disposed with their vertical flanges in abutting relation so as to constitute, in effect, aninverted T-section, on whose horizontal flanges the floor slabs 5 are supported. The slabs 5 are preferably constructed of fire-brick material, and disposed ontop thereof is a layer ofinsulation brick 6, all as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

At each side of the structure, is'an'outer base wall 7 of fire-brick material, and intermediate the base walls 7, are longitudinal dividing walls 8 composed of firebrick or 3? other suitable refractory material preferably of the peculiar tapering cross-section shown. The walls 8 are suitably spaced and afford supports for the floor proper 9 of the combustion or heating-chamber A, the longitudinally extending spaces 10 between the walls 8, which spaces communicate with the'chainber'A as. hereinafter appears, constituting what may be termed air-recuperating fines, that is to say. the spaces or fines 10 are; dei signed to receive and pre-heat the air before it "is admitted to the combustion or heating? chamber A. thereabove, the air initially entering'the open ends 11, located at the front spaces or flues 12 formed by the ribs 2 between the foundation proper 1 and the floorslabs 5, and then flowing from the fines 12 into the lines 10 through communicating passages 13 located within and adjacent the rear end of the structure, as best seen in Figure 2.

The floor 9 of the combustion or heating chamber A is constructed generally of firebrick and is relatively thick as compared with the roof 14- thereof, which latter is preferably composed of slabs of suitable heat-transferring material, such as, for instance, alundum or carborundum tile, special iron, or the like.

The roof 14 is supported intermediate the side walls of the oven by longitudinally extending division walls 15 composed of firebriclrmaterial and preferably substantially corresponding in cross-section with the floorsupporting walls 8. By the arrangement of he division walls 15, the combustion or heating chamber A is divided to comprise a series of separate longitudinally extending compartments 16."

The several compartments 16 andthe airrecuperating flues 10 are closed at their forward ends by the front wall 17 of the oven see Figure 1). At the rear end of the oven, the compartments 16 communicate through vertically extending flues 18 provided in the oven rear wall 19 with horizontal base fines 20 (see Figure 2) leading to the usual stack (not shown).

Inserted and disposed in the floor 9 of the chamber A, are transversely disposed, special sections or locks 21 preferably of fire-brick material having a main bore 22 communicating at the side of the oven, with a gas-supply pipe 23. In the region of the blocks 21 the fioor 9 is transversely channeled, as at 24, and formed in each block 21, is preferably a plurality of vertically disposed jet-orifices 25 communicating with the bore 22 and dis charging the supplied gas directly into the channels 2-1 of the compartments 16 of chamher A. Also provided in the blocks 21 and discharging into the channels 24; for support ingcombustion, are ports or ducts 26 leading from the air-fines 10. In the channels 24-, the supplied air and gas are mixed and ignited.

The supply of gas, may be here stated, may be conveniently regulated or controlled through the medium of any suitable valve (not shown) in the supply tube 23. The air supply through the'ports 26 is preferably, however, controlled by means of a slidevalve in the form of an elongated plate 27 working in parallel slide-ways 28 secured on the underside'of the floor 9 and cross-connected at intervals throughout their length by arcuate yokes 29. While not specifically shown, the slide-valve plate 27 is providec with 'a series of apertures that may be 'respectively brought into full or partial register with the ports 26, so as to regulate the quantity of air admitted to the chamber A, the plate 27 having an operating-rod 30 attached thereto and extending outside of the oven within convenient reach of an attendant.

It might also be here stated that, according to the length of the chamber A, there may be provided one or more points of application of fuel. In any case, for practical purposes, however, the oven will be of considerable length, and there will ordinarily be two or more points of fuel supply near the forward portion of the structure, and these may be used collectively or separately, depending upon the degree of heat to be maintained and the necessary regulation of the blast.

The side Walls of the chamber A are constructed of an outer shell of ordinary insulation brick 31 with a lining 32 of tile composed of fire-brick materiahas best seen in Figure 8, and spaced from said side walls is an outer shell or retaining wall composed preferably of sheet metal plates 33 secured at their lower marginal portions to the outer flange of a channel-member 34 extending longitudinally along the bottom portion of the oven and resting on the projecting floor slabs 5. The wall-plates 33 are also bolted to parallel pairs of upstanding supports and reinforcing members 35, in turn, bolted to the projecting end-portions of the transverse floor supports 4:. The supports 35 project upwardly a considerable distance above the top of the oven. and, in practice, carry at their upper end a suitably trussed sheltering roof (not shown), which bracesthem, or they may be obviously braced by any suitable cross-connections or frame-work according to approved structural practices. As also best seen in Figure .3, the space between the brick side-walls and the outer metallic shell of the structure is preferably filled with abody of loose sand 36, which serves as heat-retaining insulation for the chamber A and the air-supply ducts.

B designates the carbonizing and distilling or vaporizing chamber, which is constructed preferably of metal. As shown, channel members 37 are disposed along the tops of the brick side walls of the chamber A and have secured thereto frame-members or yokes 38, which are substantially E-shape in elevation, as seen in Figure 3, and located at in tervals corresponding to the positions of the uprights 35, or, in other words, the yokes 38 are preferably in transverse alignment with each pair of the uprights Secured to the upper ends of the yokes 38, are channel members 39, and secured, in turn, to the outer sides of said channel and frame members are plates 40, this structure being cross-connected with the respective uprights by struts 41 comprising sleeves interposed between the outer faces of the plates 40 and the inner sides of said uprights 35 and tie-bolts 42 e2; tending through the sleeves and fastened at their opposite ends by nuts 43, 44 with interposed washers or clamping plates 45, 46,=enf

gaging the inner and outer portions, respectively, of the frame members 38 and the uprights 35. K i

Secured to the inner flange of the lower channel members 37, is a longitudinal series.

of plates 47. A similar series of plates 48 is secured to the upper channel members 39, while fixed on the middle legs 49 of the yokemembers 38, is an intermediate series of plates 50. Said series of plates form division walls between the chamber B and the chamb ers G formed by the channel-members37 and 39 and plates 40, the several series of plates being spaced the one from the other and providing longitudinal slots or; passages 51, 52, affording continuous communicating openings between'the chamber B and the opposed flanking collecting-chambers C so provided by the channel-members 37-and 39 and plates 40 at opposite sides of the chamber B. Preferably the middle series of plates is tilted or obliquely disposed, as shown in Figure 3, to the lower and upper walls or plates 47 and 48, its upper edgeportion being oilset inwardly from the lower edge of the.

upper series of plates 48 into the chamber B, Y

and its lower edge portion being correspondingly offset outwardly into the collectingchamber C. By this arrangement, the plates 49 become,.as it may be said, a baflle in effect and function efiecti-vely in preventing the products of condensation from entering the chamber B and insure collection of the same in the trough at the bottom of thechamber C afforded by the lower series of plates4 7', thechannel member 37, and the lower portion of the outer platesO, V

The chamber B is covered or roofed preferably removable plates whose longitudinal edge portions are flanged downwardly over the outer sides ofithe upper edge portions of the upper longitudinal plates48, while at their transverse meeting edge por tions they are provided with angle members 56 which serve as stiflening reinforcements and afford upstanding flanges, over which latter are placed channel members 57 which serve as seam caps. The cover-plates 54 are further provided with additional angle mem- 7 here 58, which latter are provided with eyes upper marginal portions of thesideplates "for the engagement of the hooked lower end portions 59 of hangerbars 60 whose upper end portions are hooked, as-at 61, over preferably tubular cross-carrier bars 62 supported, in turn, at their ends on a stable part of the structure, preferably, as shown, on the vapor-conducting mains 63.at opposite sides oi the oven, which latter will presently be described a It may be here stated that the top or roof, of the chamber B and the collecting-chamber C ispreferably insulated by a sand fill-6a retained at thesides of the structure by the which-latter, in connection with the upper channel members 39, affordtroughs at each side-of the oven.

The mains 63, of which there is one for eachor" the collecting-chambers C, are sup-1 ported at suitable intervals by tubular or pipe-sections 65, which are mounted, as best seen finiFigure 3, on the upper channel members-39i- This arrangement or mounting of the 1n'ains68, in turn, aiitords a stable, firm support for the carrier-bars 62, as'before stated. The pipes 65 afford direct communica-tion between the collecting-chambers C and the mains '63, preferably each pipe 65 being provided with a suitablevalve 6 6 for controlling the flow or take-oil of vapor and lubricant therethrougln Paralleling the mains 1 63, are socalled lubricant circulatingmains 67, which are the two mains 6?, which have suitable con nection, not show-npwith a source of lubricant or by-productsupply under pressure, may be connected, either. at the front end or atanyv other desirable point within-the length of r the oven orretor't, with a common manifold 74 having communicationfin;turn, with a well',;settl1ng-tank, or thehke, not shown, for

the used lubricant or lay-product fluid, and

from which such fluid may be removed and suitably treated for resupply to the mains 67. 'The two mains 63 may also be connected .by a common manifold 75, as seen in Figure 1, from which the products delivered by the main 63,1nay be suitably conducted for treatment for commercial or other use, as may be desired.

The materialto be treated is fed into the chamber B at the-rear end of the oven or retort and is thence conveyed forwardly. on the slabs 14 which-constitute and form the roof of the chamber A and the floor of the chamber B, during which time, under the influence of heattransferred by the floor 14, the volatile substances are thrown or driven off, the residue being finally discharged at the front end of the chamber Binto a chute 76, through which latter it passes to a suitable conveyorTT which takes it to the desired degree of fineness that the largest particle thereof will pass through a screen or sieve of what is known as 14 mesh and approximately fifty per cent (50%) thereof will.

pass through a screen or sieve of 100 mesh. The material, in such finely divided condition, is supplied to a hopper 78 communicating with the rear end portion of the chamber B through a passage way 79 controlled by an adjustable gate 80 which regulates the stream.

In practice, the pulverized material is efficiently carried along the floor of the chamber B in a substantially uniform sheet having a depth of approximately two inches by means of an endless belt conveyor shown in Figures 4 and 6 conventionally and schematically by broken lines in Figures 1 and 2.

Such conveyor comprises parallel endless chain belts 81 which pass over sprocket wheels 82, 83, located at opposite ends of the oven. Power for driving the sprockets may be applied to those at either or both ends of the oven, as may be desired, and as these details constitute no essential part of the present invention, specific illustration thereof is omitted.

Connecting the'links 84 of the sprocket chains 81 are pivot-pins or bolts 85, and mounted on the pivot-pins or bolts 85, as'best seen in Figures 6 and 7, are peripherally grooved rollers 86 adapted to travel or ride intermediate the driving sprockets 82, 83, upon trackways 87, 88, located within the collecting-chamber C, the lower trackways 87 being mounted on the base portions of the frame-members 38 and the upper trackways 88 being mounted on the middle legs 49 of the frame-members 38.

On the inner faces of the inner chain-links 84, about midway their pivot bolts or pins 85, are bosses or lugs 89, in which are secured the end-portions of transverse blade-carriers or shafts 90 preferably in the form of tubular rods, as shown, see Figure 6; and hingedly mounted for swinging movement on the rodsor shafts 90, are scrapers 91. As best seen in Figures 6 and 7, each scraper 91 has a hooked end-portion 92 loosely disposed upon a shaft 90 and retained in engagement therewith by means of a cotter-pin or the like 93 passed through both the body and end-portion of the scraper. As also shown in Figure 7, each scraper 91 is retained from shifting longitudinally of its supporting shaft 90 by means of cotter-pins or the like 94 fitted into the shaft upon opposite sides of the scraper.

The free end portions of the scraper 91 are flanged downwardly, as at 95, and riveted or otherwise fixed thereto, as at 96, are blades 97. Normally, the blades 97 ride with their lower or scraping edge portions on the floor 14 of the chamber B, and in this relation the blades 97 set at an angle of approximately thirty degrees with respect to the surface of the floor 14, the inclination being rearward relatively to the direction of travel of the scrapers. Preferably the upper portion 98 or eachbladc 97 is turned at an angle of substantially thirty degrees to the body of the blade and set substantially perpendicular to the surface of the floor 14 in the normal position of the blade.

The blades 97 are of a length to reach in close proximity to the Wall plates 47 and 48 of the collecting-chamber C at opposite sides of the oven and are spaced at relative distances from each other so as to move the sheet of pulverized material being treated steadily and evenly along the surface of the floor 14 0f the chamber B.

Hence, in use and operation, under the influence of the heat imparted to the floor 14 by the burning gases in the compartments 16 of chamber A and by the floor 14 imparted to the material being fed or scraped therealong by the series of scrapers 91, the volatile portions of such material are vaporized and driven off and under the pressure created in the chamber B and slight suction created in the mains 63 by a suitable pump or other suction creating means, not shown, pass first into the flanking collecting-chambers C and from the chambers and through the pipes to the collecting mains 63, flowing, in turn, from the mains 63 and the manifold 7 5 to condensing or other treating apparatus for commercial utilization. Any of such vapors condensing in the chambers C, pipes 65, or mains 63 will flow back or precipitate into the troughs provided by the channel-members 37 and may then for utilization be drawn from the oven in any suitable manner.

During such distilling or vaporizing operations, the lubricant or other suitable byproduct fluid is suitably pumped into the mains 67 and then sprayed into the mains 63. From the mains 63, the sprayed fluid flows or precipitates through the pipes 65 directly first upon the belts or chains 81, rollers 86, and trackways 87, 88,'and then into the troughs provided by the channel members 37, from which the spent fluid may be suitably removed and, under suitable separation process with the condensed vapors, treated for reuse in the oven. By such means, not only are dust troubles within the chambers C and mains 63 largely eliminated without in any manner interfering with or retarding proper take ofi of the vapors of distillation, but the moving parts are automatically maintained throughout the operations of theoven in Well lubricated condition, thus making for ease of operation and preservation of parts.

For convenience in ignition of the fuel gases in the compartments 16 of chamber A and for inspection of the conditions of the chamber from time to time during retort operations, sight-openings 99 are preferably providedin the oven side-walls, .-vvhich open opened and closed at will; "Corresponding Openings 100, in alignment with the, openings 99, may be provided in the division M11 15 for accessto and observing the conditions in the inner )St compartment orcompartm ents.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination, of

the severalparts ofwmy new retort may; be

of longitudinally disposed platesdisposed intermediate the chambers, said series of plates being spaced one from the other and affordcommunication between the chambers, the intermediate series of platesbeing disposed obliquelyto the upper and lower series of plates. 1

2. In a, retort, a vaporizing chamber,opposed vapor-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sidesof the vaporizing-chamber, slotted division walls intermediate j the: vaporizing-chamber and the collecting-chambers, and a conveyor for feedingthejmaterial being treated through the vaporizingchamber, the conveyor comprising scrapercarriers extending through the slots of said walls and at their ends adapted to travel in the collecting-chambers. 1

3. In a retort, avaporizing-chamber, -op posed vapor-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing-chamber, slotted division walls intermediate said chambers, trackways inthe collecting-chambers, and a conveyor for feeding the mate ria being treated throughthevaporizingchamber, said conveyorcomprising scraperc riers extending at their ends throughthe slots of said walls, and rollers mounted upon the carrier-ends and adapted to travel on said trackways. v i

4. In a retort, a vaporizing-chamber, op-

posed vapor-collecting chambersfla-nking the opposite sides of the vaporizing chamber, slotted division walls-intermediate said chambers, superposed trackways in the collectingchambers, and an endless conveyor for feeding the material being treated through the vaporizing-chamber, said conveyor comprising scraper-carriers extending at their ends through the slots of said walls, and rollers mounted upon the carrier-ends and adapted to travel on said trackways.

5. In a retort, a vaporizing-chamber, opposed vapor-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing chamber, a conveyor for feeding the material being treatings are provided with suitable closures to be ed through the vaporizing-chamber, said conveyor having portions extending into the collecting-chambers, and means for deliver: ing a liibricating fluid into the collectingchambers and upon said conveyor-portions.

6. In a retort," a vaporizing-chamber, vapor-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing-chamber, trackways in the collecting-chambers, a conveyor for feeding the material being treated in the va porizing-chamber, said conveyor comprising rollers adapted totravel on the trackways, and means for delivering a lubricating fluid into the collecting-chambers and upon the trackwaysand rollers. -v a 7 In a retort, a vaporizing-chamber, vaper-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing-chamber, trackways in the collecting-chambers, a conveyor for feeding the material being treated through the vaporizing chamber, said conveyor comprising rollers adapted to travel on the trackways, and means for delivering a lubricating fluid into the collecting-chambers and upon the trackways and rollers, said means comprising'mains disposed, over the collecting-chambers, communicating pipeconnectionsbetvveen the mains and collecting-chambers, and lubricant supply connections tothe mains.

8.}I-n a retort, a vaporizing-chamber, va por-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing-chamber, a conveyor for feeding the material being treated through the vaporizing-chamber, said conveyor having portions adapted for movement through the collecting-chambers, and means comprising mains having pipe-connection with the collecting-chambers for. both receiving the vapor collected in the chambers and delivering a lubricating fluid into said chambers for said conveyor-portions.

"9. In a-retort,a vaporizing-chamber, vapor-collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing-chamber, track- Ways in the collecting-chambers, a conveyor for feeding the material being treated through the vaporizing-chamber, said conveyor comprisin rollers adapted to travel on the trackways, and mains disposed over and having pipe-connection with the collecting-chambers for receiving the vapor collected in said chambers'and delivering a 111;

-bricating fluid into said chambers for the trackwaysandrollers.

V 10. In a retort, a heating-chamber, a vaporizing-chamber in superposed relationto the heating chamber, opposed vapor-collectingchambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing chamber, an imperforate wall disposed between and dividing the heatingchamber from the vaporizing-chambers, and

slotteddivision walls intermediate, and providin'g; communication between, the vaporizing-chamber and the collecting-chambers.

11. In a retort, heating-chamber, a va-" porizing-chamber in superposed relationto the heating-chaniber, the vaporizing-chamher having supply and discharge openings, a wall intermediate said chambers, said Wall forming the top of the heating-chamber and the floor of the vaporizing-chamber, means for feeding the material being treated over the floor of and through the vaporizingher having supply and discharge openings,

a wall intermediate said chambers, said wall forming the top of the heating-chamber and the floor of the vaporizing-chamber, means for feeding the material being treated over the floor of and through the vaporizingchamber from its supply to its discharge opening, a vapor-collecting third chamber flanking the vaporizing-chamber, and a Wall intermediate the vaporizing and third 1 chambers, said wall comprising longitudinal series of plates arranged in superposed spaced relation and afiording continuously open vapor discharging and collecting 'com'- ununication between the vaporizing and third chambers.

13. In a retort, a heating-chamber, a vaporizing-chamber in superposed-relation to the heating-chamber, the vaporizing-chamber having supply and discharge openings, a Wall intermediate said chambers, said Wall forming the top of the heating-chamber and the floor of the vaporizing-chamber, means for feeding the material being treated over the floor of and through the vaporizing-chamber from its supply to its discharge opening, opposed vapor collecting chambers flanking the opposite sides of the vaporizing-chamber, and Walls dividing said third chambers from the vaporizing-chamber, each of said Walls comprising longitudinal series of plates arranged in superposed spaced relation and affording continuously open vapor discharging and collecting communication between the vaporizing and third chambers.

14. In a retort, a heating-chamber, a vaporizing-chamber in superposed relation to the heating-chamber, the vaporizing chamber having supply and discharge openings, a wall intermediate said chambers, said Wall forming the top of the heating-chamber and the floor of the vaporizing-chamber, means for feeding the material being treated over the 7 floor of and through the vaporizing-chamber from its supply to its discharge opening, a vapor-collectmg chamber flanking and hav irfg'vapor-collecting communication with the vaporizing-chamber, a Vapor-collecting main, and a series of pipe connections providing communication at spaced points between said main and the vapor collecting chamber.

15. In a retort, a horizontally disposed heating-chamber, horizontally disposed vaporizing-chamber extending longitudinally the retort in superposed relation to the heating-c'hamber, the vaporizing chamber having supply and discharge openings at the opposite longitudinal ends of the retort, a horizontally disposed Wall intermediate said chambers, said wall forming the top of the heating-chamber and the floor of the vaporizing-chamber, means for feeding the material being treated over the floor of and through the vaporizing-chamber from its supply to its discharge opening, a vapor-cot le'c'ting chamber also extending longitudinally the retort flanking the vaporizing-chamber, an apertured wall intermediate and providing communication between the vaporizing chamber and the vapor-collecting chamber, and means for delivering, for purposes de scribed, a fluid into the vapor-collecting ohaniber. v

16. In a retort, a heating-chamber, a vaporizing-chamber in superposed relation to the heating-ch amber, the vaporizing-chamber having'supply and discharge openings, a wall intermediate said chambers, said Wall forming the top of the heating-chamber and the floor of the vaporizing-chamber, means for feeding the material being treated over the floor oiand through the vaporizing-chamber from its supply to its discharge opening, opposed vapor-collecting chambers flanking opposits sides of and each having vapor-ooh lecting communication with the vaporizingchamber and means for delivering, for purposes described, a fluid into each of the vapor collecting chambers 17.- In a retort, a vaporizing-chamber, opposed vapor-collecting chambers flanking opposite sides of the vaporizing chamber, and a conveyer for feeding the material being treated through the vaporizing chamber, said conveyer havin portions extending into the collecting chain 'ers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification;

GEORGE MoD. JOHNS. 

